Icy storm snarls air travel; some O.C. flights canceled

Dec. 6, 2013

Updated 3:44 p.m.

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Seth English scraps the ice off his car windshield Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 in Owensboro, Ky. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet maintenance crews were out treating roadways early Friday in anticipation of the winter weather, and multiple school districts called off classes. (AP Photo/The Messenger-Inquirer, John Dunham )

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Joseph Mezo uses an umbrella as he walks to work in light sleet and icey conditions Friday morning, Dec. 6, 2013, in Dallas. An ice storm in North Texas has knocked out power to more than a quarter of a million homes and business, canceled almost 1,000 flights and contributed to a fatal wreck. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the Dallas area until Friday night. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Kenny Burger, left, helps his father Harold Burger saw tree ice covered tree limbs knocked down by a winter storm Friday morning, Dec. 6, 2013, in Richardson, Texas. Winter storm and ice warnings are in effect through much of today for parts of six states in the Midwest, including Texas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Lance Marsh with the City Garage clears Fourth Street Friday morning, Dec. 6, 2013, in downtown Columbus, Ind. Several inches of snow fell on central and southern Indiana, making driving treacherous and leading to at least two fatal crashes. (AP Photo/The Republic, Andrew Laker)

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Jim Cline clears a path for Christmas tree shoppers following a winter storm Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, in Indianapolis. Several inches of snow fell on central and southern Indiana, making driving treacherous and leading to at least two fatal crashes. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Laura Perez scrapes ice off of her car as she prepares to drive to work in icy conditions Friday morning, Dec. 6, 2013, in Dallas. An ice storm in North Texas has knocked out power to more than 250,000 homes and businesses, canceled almost 1,000 flights and contributed to a fatal wreck. LM OTERO, AP

Snow falls as motorists make their morning commutes early Friday morning, Dec. 6, 2013, in downtown Columbus, Ind. Several inches of snow fell on central and southern Indiana, making driving treacherous and leading to at least two fatal crashes. (AP Photo/The Republic, Andrew Laker)

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Jonathan Flores, left, and Marlin Twyman look over the scene of an ice related accident to Twyman's car on a highway overpass Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, in Richardson, Texas. Winter storm and ice warnings are in effect through much of today for parts of six states in the Midwest, including Texas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Traffic slowly moves along an ice covered highway Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, in Dallas. Winter storm and ice warnings are in effect through much of today for parts of six states in the Midwest, including Texas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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A bicyclist rides his bike on the Monon Trail following a winter storm Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, in Indianapolis. Several inches of snow fell on central and southern Indiana, making driving treacherous and leading to at least two fatal crashes. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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A man who said his name is "Cotton" and described himself as a modern day 'hobo' is photographed as he walked toward Interstate 40 where he hoped to hitch a ride and make it to Arkansas by the end of the day. Cotton, 53, said he is a former US Marine and has been trained to withstand the elements. He says he now enjoys the freedom of traveling throughout America by road and by rail. Thursday's frigid temperatures and snow didn't concern him and would not hamper his travels because he says he carries everything he needs for comfort in his backpack He was in Oklahoma City getting food as a strong winter storm, bringing snow and ice, moved across the state and through the metro area Thursday afternoon, Dec. 5, 2013. (AP Photo / Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman)

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An American Eagle jet is sprayed with deicing compound on a DFW Airport runway in Fort Worth, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. A winter weather storm is heading into the area, with below-freezing temperatures. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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Scott Asperheim of Duluth runs his snowblower to clear the sidewalk around his home from several feet of snow Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. "It's insane," said Asperheim. "We just moved in. It's a great way to welcome us to the neighborhood." (AP Photo/Duluth News Tribune, Bob King)

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Travis Gerard of Duluth, who just bought a new snowblower, is almost invisible in the plume of snow shooting from the new blower Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. "Normally I like winter," said Gerard. "It's just too much though." (AP Photo/Duluth News Tribune, Bob King)

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David Velasco shovels snow on a sidewalk in Springfield, Mo., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. Most of southern Missouri was under winter weather warnings, with up to 8 inches of snow possible by Friday evening. (AP Photo/The Springfield News-Leader, Nathan Papes) NO SALES

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Hannah Michael, 19, scraps snow off her car outside of Brick City in Springfield, Mo., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. Most of southern Missouri was under winter weather warnings, with up to 8 inches of snow possible by Friday evening. (AP Photo/The Springfield News-Leader, Nathan Papes) NO SALES

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Wayne Neally runs a snowblower to clear his driveway while Deanne Ferguson does her clearing the old-fashioned way with a large snow scoop, right, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. Ferguson's would have preferred a snowblower, but hers broke yesterday. (AP Photo/Duluth News Tribune, Bob King)

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Icicles hang from the roof of Stokkes Lakewood Market in Lakewood Township Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 after temperatures fell into the single digits overnight. Snow from the storm's strong winds still sticks to the outside wall. (AP Photo/Duluth News Tribune, Bob King)

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Drivers negotiate an ice covered US 285 at the I-25 interchange near Santa Fe, N.M. early Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. Some northern New Mexico highways have difficult driving conditions Thursday as the latest blast of freezing temperatures, wind and snow causes delays and closures in parts of the state. National Weather Service forecasters say snowfall accumulations in some areas could reach 6 to 8 inches, with hardest-hit areas expected to include Torrance County and north toward Las Vegas. (AP Photo/The Santa Fe New Mexican, Clyde Mueller)

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Cesar Velasco, from Albuquerque, N.M., walks by his truck on the side of highway I-25 Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, in La Bajada, N.M. Velasco, a driver for Legacy in Albuquerque, was on his way to Santa Fe to make some deliveries when his truck jackknifed off the slipper highway. A storm system swept through parts of New Mexico early Thursday, dumping up to 6 inches of snow across the state and causing highway headaches, school closures and delays. (AP Photo/The Santa Fe New Mexican, Luis Sanchez Saturno)

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An unidentified man cleans his windshield of ice and sleet Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, in Mountain Home, Ark. A mix of rain,sleet and snow moved through northern Arkansas on Thursday. More is expected Friday. (AP Photo/The Baxter Bulletin, Kevin Pieper)

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Students walk through the snow at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/The News-Leader, Valerie Mosley)

Seth English scraps the ice off his car windshield Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 in Owensboro, Ky. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet maintenance crews were out treating roadways early Friday in anticipation of the winter weather, and multiple school districts called off classes. (AP Photo/The Messenger-Inquirer, John Dunham )

Anyone flying to or through Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Friday may want to make other plans after a storm forced cancellation of about 1,000 flights at that iced-in Texas travel hub.

Forecasters predicted North Texas would get a half-inch of icy rain and temperatures would plummet to below freezing over the weekend. The same arctic cold front was expected to disrupt flights across the country over the next couple of days. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from west and central Texas to southwestern New York state.

American Airlines canceled at least six Dallas arrivals and departures at John Wayne Airport Friday. Los Angeles International Airport reported many other Texas flights were taken off its schedule.

Other airports also reported weather-related problems. Chicago’s O’Hare International canceled more than 50 flights by mid-morning. Flights at Philadelphia International Airport were being delayed nearly two hours because of low clouds.

Travelers are advised to contact their airlines to check on the status of their flights. For information about John Wayne Airport, go to ocair.com.

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